[OT] That way lies madness....
Yowie
our finances so our credit cards won't kill us.
We've also factored in some omney so we can finally finish the home
renovations we started last year and were planning to finish earlier this
year when my anual bonus came in. Of course we didn't get a bonus (nor pay
rise nor promotion) this year because of the GFC - probably lucky to have
the job actually.
Anyway, I was up to my metaphorical ears juggling number and re-doing our
budgets (something I truly loathe) when Joel said "Oh god, I've just had a
truly evil thought"
"what?" I asked
"You won't like it," he replied.
"Doesn't matter" I said, my curiousity more than a litte piqued.
"You really don't want to know" he declared.
"TELL ME!" I demanded.
So he told me:
"If we borrowed another $50,000 on the home loan we could *just* afford the
repayments if we stretched the mortgage out to 20 years, and with the
$50,000 we could go on a month long holiday in the USA and visit all our
friends."
"Dont be stupid" I said.
"Told you you wouldn't like it" He retorted.
"But I would love to see..." and then rattled of a dozen RPCA names, plus
some WoW names.
"And you could finally see Monument Valley, and we could buy cheap clothes
in Walmart that actually fit us and..."
And so for the past three days I've been planning a holiday to the USA I
can't possibly afford.
And have cursed Joel plenty of times for ever putting the idea in my head.
So far the cheapest flight I've found to LAX and return is US$828 each, and
its much cheaper for us to book from an America than it is to book the
flight in Australia. Go figure. Now also working on what the most effecient
way of starting and finishing at LA (or maybe NY) and visiting everyone
would be. Start off in La, go downthe coast, cross through Arizona, through
Texas & Lousiana, through Alabama & Florida and up the Atlantic coast via
the Carolinas to wave at Pam and then up to NY, over the border to Toronto,
then down through Detroit (Chicago?) through Montana & Washington and back
down to LA? And how much the rental car would be (what would I get?) and how
much hotels are, and what we'd eat, and whether I could really drive out of
LA airport onthe wrong side of the road after a 22 hour flight, and whether
we should try at least some of Route 66 coz its always sounded so cool. On
this holiday we're not having.
Joel is a bastard.
Yowie
--
If you're paddling upstream in a canoe and a wheel falls off, how many
pancakes can you fit in a doghouse? None, icecream doesn't have bones.
Joy
news:7lp5o2F...@mid.individual.net...
It would really be exciting if you could come to the USA!
I can't help wondering where you're getting your information, though. I'm
planning another trip to Oz toward the end of next year, so I've been doing
some checking. The cheapest round trip flight I could find from LAX to
Sydney was over $1,000. Also, the flight is about 15 hours, not 22. Of
course, that's if you go nonstop. Usually flights with stopovers cost more
besides taking longer.
At any rate, I certainly wouldn't recommend driving from LAX after such a
long flight. It would make much more sense to either have a friend pick you
up or take a shuttle to your hotel. Someone (possibly me) could drive you
to a car rental place after you've had a chance to catch up on your sleep -
or even a day or two later
Driving in Los Angeles is scary enough for natives, and we're used to
driving on the right side of the road. Unfortunately, Los Angeles doesn't
have the good public transportation Sydney does, for instance. However,
there are at least two or three of us RPCA people who live within driving
distance of LAX. I'm sure we could manage to chauffeur you around this
area.
I'm assuming you do realize that the USA is roughly the same size as
Australia, and the trip you're talking about would be the equivalent of
visiting Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin
and Cairns, with a few other places thrown in. ;-)
Anyway, good luck, whatever happens.
joy
Kyla `=^..^=`
We don't live far from the airport either <G> And you could visit Pam S's
kids in Seattle. Seattle is a great place to visit and live.
Kyla
Bev
went to New Orleans and hired a car. We drove along the Mississippi and
visited all the wonderful old southern mansions. But your remark about
driving on the wrong side of the road brought back a horrible memory. It
was a Sunday and we got to Baton Rouge. DH was driving and I said casually
that I couldn't understand why there were so many cars coming towards us.
You guessed it - we were driving on the wrong side of the freeway. It was
frightening and I will never know how we escaped unharmed. I think there
was less traffic because it was a weekend. The trouble was when we turned
onto the freeway there was no one in front of us and we turned the wrong way
instead of following a car in front.
The other almost catastrophe was when we arrived at Disneyland in L.A.
Once again I forgot the cars were travelling on the other side of the road.
I launched myself onto the wide road to walk across to Disneyland and
nearly got creamed for my trouble.
Bev (who hates driving on the other side of the road)
MLB
You made me think of the song "Dream, when you're feeling blue.
Dream and it might come true----"
Keep dreaming. MLB
Jofirey
Hey, there is nothing wrong with building castles in the sky, as
long as you don't try to live in them, right?
My mother and I both always became very depressed after a trip was
over, and we each found that the only way to deal with it was to
start planning the next trip. Sometimes it happened, sometimes it
didn't. But we always had plans in the works.
I really want to go to Florida to see my sister and her family. I
really want to take some of the grandkids back to visit Washington
DC where I grew up.
I've already promised Charlie either Australia or New Zealand, two
of the few places he's never been and wants to visit, if he behaves
and deals with some medical issues to make any kind of a trip
possible.
I really want to....
Jo
Enfilade
a car, pick up DP's younger brother and drive to PEI, because that way
his chronically-broke brother would be able to come home too (he's
been employed seasonally for several years, and though he now has a
year-round job, he's just moved in with his girlfriend, so, money
continues to be tight for him).
Well...
We ended up paying over $1,000 for the rental car due to all the extra
mileage we put on it driving from Halifax to PEI and back, and that's
only maybe 8-10 hours on the road.
Renting a car gets a lot less economical when you start putting
serious road-trip style distance on it, and not just driving to
attractions and restaurants in the same city.
--Fil
NettieCat
driving until you've had a good period of sleep. Ade and I did a fly
drive trip to the US / Canada (his holiday, not mine, I hated almost
every minute of it) and we only had a seven / eight hour flight, but
he still struggled with driving from Toronto to Niagara for our first
night's sleepover.
Joy
news:hd7sdt$drl$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>
>>
> Vicky, talking about your fantasy trip to the US reminds me of when DH and
> I went to New Orleans and hired a car. We drove along the Mississippi
> and visited all the wonderful old southern mansions. But your remark
> about driving on the wrong side of the road brought back a horrible
> memory. It was a Sunday and we got to Baton Rouge. DH was driving and
> I said casually that I couldn't understand why there were so many cars
> coming towards us. You guessed it - we were driving on the wrong side of
> the freeway. It was frightening and I will never know how we escaped
> unharmed. I think there was less traffic because it was a weekend. The
> trouble was when we turned onto the freeway there was no one in front of
> us and we turned the wrong way instead of following a car in front.
>
> The other almost catastrophe was when we arrived at Disneyland in L.A.
> Once again I forgot the cars were travelling on the other side of the
> road. I launched myself onto the wide road to walk across to Disneyland
> and nearly got creamed for my trouble.
>
> Bev (who hates driving on the other side of the road)
Yes, driving on the side of the road you aren't used to can be terrifying.
An Aussie friend was kind enough to let me try driving her car when we were
visiting a small Australian town. I think I may have driven for a mile - 2
miles tops. I don't know which of us was more relieved when we switched
back.
Joy
Stormmee
people you want to see. then contact triple a and see if they could help
with the routing. eating is easy, walmart has a deli with most everything
more or less reasonable and ready made. you could get that to eat after
shopping... and think about when you do buy things you could simply post
them home.
also look at prices for chicago and stl and ny to see if any of those are
better. if you are driving all over it doesn't matter where you start if you
are going to make a circuit.
also think of renting a motor home, i think you guys call them a caravan?
so you could drive and sleep in rest areas to save money and many have
cooking ability to also save money... rest areas are safer than the media
would have you beleive... if the rental of the motor home is cheap enough
then you can factor in a hotel stop to shower every other or day... also if
you choose that route, many of our truck stops have shower facilities for
around five/ten dollars so you would not ever have to hotel just purchase
the shower... our camp grounds are also between twenty and thirty percent of
a hotel and many have pools and showers.
Lee, loving this particular fantasey
--
Have a wonderful day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7lp5o2F...@mid.individual.net...
Stormmee
several hours apart but have met in a centralized location for a get
together and that might work, if you find out where everyone is and then get
to a generally centralized local the others could meet you... for example
if you do maps good.
dan lives in iowa, i live in IL and gramby lives very close to the indiana
border, we met in sprigfield IL at a perfectly wonderful hotel. Lee
--
Have a wonderful day
"Stormmee" <rgr...@consolidated.net> wrote in message
news:7lq91jF...@mid.individual.net...
Mark Edwards
>Now also working on what the most effecient way of starting and
> finishing at LA (or maybe NY) and visiting everyone would be. Start off
> in La, go downthe coast, cross through Arizona, through
>Texas & Lousiana, through Alabama & Florida and up the Atlantic
> coast via the Carolinas to wave at Pam and then up to NY, over the
>border to Toronto, then down through Detroit (Chicago?) through
> Montana & Washington and back down to LA?
Oh cool. Email me if your plans include coming through to the Dallas/Fort
Worth (Arlington) area, and I'll be glad to give you directions to our
hovel.
Hugs and Purrs,
Mark
--
Proof of Sanity Forged Upon Request
Yowie
ideal (specially if it sone of those fancy ones which has its own toilet. I
can live without a shower for a few days, but not a toilet)
And Joy, yup, I know the continental USA is about as big as Australia, but i
reckon the *only* way to see a country properly is to drive it, and to stop
and get out whenever and wherever you want (and take detours as often as a
sign to 'something interesting' goes past). Don't forget I drove to Cairns
and back in 2007 (4000km round trip), so driving long distances doesn't put
me off... except for that 'wrong side of the road' problem. I also note that
the interior of the USA is far more populated than Oz, so there's more
opportunities to stop and meet hte locals. Probably better if we go in
summer - we can deal with the heat pretty well being from Oz, but I have no
idea on how to drive in snow & ice and it seems silly to have to buy a whole
wardrobe's worth of snow clothing just for a holiday, as much as I'd love to
see snow falling one day (woudl especially love a White Christmas!). BTW,
the really cheap flight was found on www.cheapoair.com, and I was looking at
flying in in April 2010 and flying out in May 2010. The cheapest flight it
found me was Air Pacific, with one stop - US$727 return.
I am not one for the tourist traps mainly because I can't stand crowds. I'm
sure there's still plenty to see in the USA that isn't on the main tourist
route, and one of the things I really like to do when I travel is to stay a
while in a regular country town and getting to know some of the folks who
have lived there and the history of the place.I'd even be happy to visit a
school and talk to them about the differences between Australia and hte USA.
That sort of stuff.
Joel also would love to explore his Native American heritage more, but its a
tough one. We don't know what nation his ancestors are from, and therefore
have no idea which nation to visit. We understand that there's a DNA test
thats quite cheap over there that could help. If we were over there for a
while, we'd get it done and hopefully have the results before we left so we
could visit his homelands.
And naturally, I just *have* to go to Toadsuck, TX.
(Isn't it ironic i haven't even seen 4 of the 8 states & territories of
Australia, and yet I"m fantasing about visiting the USA?)
Yowie
"Stormmee" <rgr...@consolidated.net> wrote in message
news:7lq99qF...@mid.individual.net
> and i just thought, if Dan M. gramby and i are on your must see list
> we live several hours apart but have met in a centralized location
> for a get together and that might work, if you find out where
> everyone is and then get to a generally centralized local the others
> could meet you... for example if you do maps good.
>
> dan lives in iowa, i live in IL and gramby lives very close to the
> indiana border, we met in sprigfield IL at a perfectly wonderful
> hotel. Lee
>
Stormmmee
was african american by all outward effects/appearances genetically wasn't
at all, i think it was either cornell or another eastern uvisty that is
doing the work.
some tourist things are worth seeing like our lincon libray/museum. and
meremac caverns i am also partial to the golden gate bridge and a lovely
flower garden near there. old faithful and mount rushmore and stome
mountain are also quite nice... Lee
--
Have a great day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7lqd50F...@mid.individual.net...
Christina Websell
Wouldn't it be so fantastic? I'd love to visit a lot of people on the group
in the USA, but alas, I doubt if it will ever be possible.
If you pushed me for the first two, it would be Paulette and Annie (Smokie
Darling) who supported me so much when I had cancer.
Otherwise I'd quite like to come and see you all!
Tweed
Jofirey
I'm pretty sure the one and only Toadsuck is in Arkansas. But you
are right, you can have a great time just wandering around the
country. Do you know at least generally what part of the country
Dave's native American ancestors are from? Even pictures of a
grandparent who had more of the features etc would help you to
narrow it down.
Jo
Yowie
news:7lrketF...@mid.individual.net
Alas, the Native America ancestors are on his father's side - its about the
one fact we know about Joel's father. We don't know his name, or his
birthday, only that his father was half NA, half Irish, in Far North
Queensland in October 1974 (which suggests he may well have been an American
Vietnam Veteran - possibly AWOL), and wanted Joel's mother to abort the
pregnancy - which she obviously didn't. We don't know which side was NA. It
would be good if Joel's paternal grandfather was the Native American, as it
would have been passed on down the Y chromosome. We won't be able to see any
Native American ancestry in the mitochondrial DNA because Mitochondrial DNA
always comes from the mother. If there's no Native American markers on
Joel's Y chromosome (In other words, if his paternal grandfather was not hte
Native American), we'd have to pay for a full DNA test.
Lookign at Joel, he has very high cheek bones, deepset corneas, very dark
brown irises and not as much facial hair (either eyebrows or beard) as most
Anglo-Saxons. These are not in itself any sort of 'proof' of the story that
he's 1/4 Native American, but they are consistant with the idea.
I've also fantasised with the idea of hiring a Private Investigator and
trying to find his father, but again, the costs look prohibitive, and
really - does he want to be found considering as far as he knows, the
pregnancy was terminated. We've done our best - none of his family or
closest family friends knows anything about the time in Joel's mother's life
in 1974 and we can't find the two godparents listed on his baptism
certificate.
Jofirey
Not a lot to go on, especially without the maternal link.
It does however make Cherokee the most likely. In part because
there are just plain far more surviving members of the Cherokee
Nation than any other, and because an Irish/Cherokee combination is
quite common in the southeastern US. My oldest grandkids dad is
basically Irish/Cherokee. At least I'd guess his mother was mostly
Irish or Scots Irish and his father is mostly Cherokee.
So Toadsuck puts you in the right place. In fact thats why I'm
familiar with the place. The boys dad lived near there and sent
them shirts from the festival one year.
To learn a lot about the Cherokee Nation, I'd look up information
from the town of Cherokee, North Carolina. It is in the heart of
where the Cherokee lived before the relocation and there is a huge
amount of heritage information there.
"Everyone" was sent to live in Oklahoma, with the notable exception
of an awful lot who just never left North Carolina and others who
dropped out during the march. Not as difficult as you might think
since the Cherokee intermarried with the settlers all the time. The
majority of the early settlers in that part of the US were Scots or
Irish.
My brother's wife is part Cherokee as well, her family is from
Tennessee. And in that area some Indian blood isn't uncommon at
all.
Jo
Stormmmee
photos of na and then compare similarities to im that might narrow it, Lee
--
Have a great day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7lrs17F...@mid.individual.net...
Joy
state and territory in Australia except the Capitol Territory.
--
Joy
Don't believe everything you think
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7lqd50F...@mid.individual.net...
Joy
I can understand the frustration of trying to find out something about a
relative. My maternal grandfather was a bigamist who married my grandmother
under a false name, and dumped her with her parents while she was pregnant
with my mother, after she found out he was already married (and had 3
children).
Joy
Lucys Mom
would LOVE to see you. We could all get together!!!
--Eric, Kim and the New Chigger Ranch Crew
bastX...@sonic.net
> Alas, the Native America ancestors are on his father's side - its about the
> one fact we know about Joel's father. We don't know his name, or his
> birthday, only that his father was half NA, half Irish, in Far North
> Queensland in October 1974 (which suggests he may well have been an American
> Vietnam Veteran - possibly AWOL), and wanted Joel's mother to abort the
> pregnancy - which she obviously didn't.
Wow, Joel's a young pup! :) I didn't realize.
> We don't know which side was NA. It
> would be good if Joel's paternal grandfather was the Native American, as it
> would have been passed on down the Y chromosome. We won't be able to see any
> Native American ancestry in the mitochondrial DNA because Mitochondrial DNA
> always comes from the mother. If there's no Native American markers on
> Joel's Y chromosome (In other words, if his paternal grandfather was not hte
> Native American), we'd have to pay for a full DNA test.
I'm not sure I understand the train of thought here. Are you saying that
if his Native American ancestry were from his father's side, the genetic
test would be less expensive, and that's why you hope that is the case?
Was Joel's father an immigrant from the US, then? (Or were his grandparents?)
Joyce
--
Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is
beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but
the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.
-- Dave Barry
bastX...@sonic.net
> I'm not sure I understand the train of thought here. Are you saying that
> if his Native American ancestry were from his father's side, the genetic
> test would be less expensive, and that's why you hope that is the case?
I meant to say, "if his Native American ancestry were from his paternal
grandfather's side" as opposed to his grandmother's. You probably figured
that out, though. :)
--
"Bacteria, with a few more bells and whistles."
-- Bonnie Bassler, describing human beings
Yowie
news:4af9d70a$0$1600$742e...@news.sonic.net
> Yowie wrote:
>
>> Alas, the Native America ancestors are on his father's side - its
>> about the one fact we know about Joel's father. We don't know his
>> name, or his birthday, only that his father was half NA, half Irish,
>> in Far North Queensland in October 1974 (which suggests he may well
>> have been an American Vietnam Veteran - possibly AWOL), and wanted
>> Joel's mother to abort the pregnancy - which she obviously didn't.
>
> Wow, Joel's a young pup! :) I didn't realize.
Yup, I'm a cradle snatcher. It seemed a big deal back when I was 27 and he
was merely 21. It doesn't seem such a bid deal now I'm 40 and he's 34.
>> We don't know which side was NA. It
>> would be good if Joel's paternal grandfather was the Native
>> American, as it would have been passed on down the Y chromosome. We
>> won't be able to see any Native American ancestry in the
>> mitochondrial DNA because Mitochondrial DNA always comes from the
>> mother. If there's no Native American markers on Joel's Y chromosome
>> (In other words, if his paternal grandfather was not hte Native
>> American), we'd have to pay for a full DNA test.
>
> I'm not sure I understand the train of thought here. Are you saying
> that
> if his Native American ancestry were from his father's side, the
> genetic test would be less expensive, and that's why you hope that is
> the case?
Yes, exactly what I'm saying.
One of the very few things we know about his genetic father is that he was
half NA, half Irish. In males, the Y chromosome by definition comes from the
father and cannot combine with the mother's DNA. Therefore by definition the
Y chromosone is a direct link to through the male ancestors. Since its a
fraction of the total DNA and in a defined location, yes, the DNA test to
test the Y chromosome is much cheaper than a full DNA test. Thus, is Joel's
paternal grandfather was the Native American, he has a direct copy of that
man's Y chromosome (excepting random mutations). If the Native American was
his paternal grandmother, we'll need a complete genetic test, which would
cost considerably more.
> Was Joel's father an immigrant from the US, then? (Or were his
> grandparents?)
All we know about Joel's father was that he was half NA, half Irish, and
that he was in Far North Queensland (around Cairns, Kuranda, Mossman and
Daintree) in October 1974 (when Joel was conceived). We know that he wasn't
married to Joel's mother, he gave Joel's mother some money to get rid of the
pregnancy, and that Joel's mother wasn't seeing him any more by the time
Joel was born. Whilst I don't know for sure any more (there's no-one to ask)
it was vaguely suggested that he was into hard drugs.
I am merely speculating that Joel's father was a Vietnam vet. I just seems
likely that the reason a half Irish, half Native American young man was in
Far North Queensland in 1974 was because many many American troops who were
sent to Vietnam were given R & R in Far North Queensland, and of course many
came back addicted to hard drugs and some went AWOL into the tropical jungle
up there.
jmcquown
coast to wave at Pam in North Carolina you'd have to stop in South Carolina
to meet me and Persia! (This is assuming she comes out from hiding.) I
have a guest room so you wouldn't have to pay for a hotel. (Keep in mind,
though, I do smoke). And you know I love to cook which would save on dining
out. You'd just have to tell me what your food preferences are. I can cook
almost anything, assuming it's available :)
I'd take you guys into Beaufort (the nearest large town) on the mainland to
go on a carriage tour. This area is very rich in history and the carriage
drivers are very knowledgeable. IIRC Beaufort is the 2nd oldest city (I use
that term loosely) in South Carolina. The Spanish and French settled the
area in the 16th century and established shipping ports. Much later, of
course, came the Revolutionary War and then the American Civil War. The
antebellum mansions along the waterfront are absolutely beautiful. In
April/May, the weather is usually cooperative.
Continue with the fantasy trip. It's always nice to dream :)
Jill
jmcquown
> <bastX...@sonic.net> wrote in message
> news:4af9d70a$0$1600$742e...@news.sonic.net
>> Yowie wrote:
>>
>>> Alas, the Native America ancestors are on his father's side - its
>>> about the one fact we know about Joel's father. We don't know his
>>> name, or his birthday, only that his father was half NA, half Irish,
>>> in Far North Queensland in October 1974 (which suggests he may well
>>> have been an American Vietnam Veteran - possibly AWOL), and wanted
>>> Joel's mother to abort the pregnancy - which she obviously didn't.
>>
>> Wow, Joel's a young pup! :) I didn't realize.
>
> Yup, I'm a cradle snatcher. It seemed a big deal back when I was 27 and he
> was merely 21. It doesn't seem such a bid deal now I'm 40 and he's 34.
>
younger women, but rarely the other way around. Also historically speaking
rich older men often divorced wives in favour of the much younger trophy
wife. Yet they call women who date/marry younger men "cougers". Heh. You
share the same interests and that's what really matters.
Jill
Enfilade
I am just over 3 years older than my DP. This is not much of a big
deal now, though I still get commentary about younger men, but when we
first started seeing each other as more than friends, he was 16 and I
was 19, he was a cadet and myself an officer, though we were in
different units. He was only a year behind me in school though
because of skipping grades.
Yes, I behaved myself.
--Fil
bastX...@sonic.net
> LOL historically it's always been acceptable for older men to date (much)
> younger women, but rarely the other way around. Also historically speaking
> rich older men often divorced wives in favour of the much younger trophy
> wife. Yet they call women who date/marry younger men "cougers". Heh. You
> share the same interests and that's what really matters.
So *that's* what a "cougar" is. I've heard the term and knew it was
applied to women (and was, unsurprisingly, a bit derogatory), but not
the specific meaning.
Well, I can think of worse things to be called. I'm rather fond of the
cougar myself, one of the world's most graceful, fearsome and beautiful
animals. And now this thread is on topic! :)
Joyce
--
"No." -- Rosa Parks
Christine BA
DH is 9 years younger than me, and my most recent long time ex was (is,
he's still alive...) 13 years younger. So I guess that would make me a
cougar then... :D But then my first ex was 8 years older than me... so I
just wind up with guys I feel comfortable around, never mind the age. :)
--
Christine in Finland
christal63 (at) gmail (dot) com
Jofirey
<bastX...@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4b046cc3$0$1609$742e...@news.sonic.net...
derogatory. But like you I just don't see it myself. Cougars may
be predatory, but in this case the prey is more than willing.
Jo
jmcquown
news:c255172c-37e0-45ce...@o10g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
I am just over 3 years older than my DP. This is not much of a big
deal now, though I still get commentary about younger men, but when we
first started seeing each other as more than friends, he was 16 and I
was 19, he was a cadet and myself an officer, though we were in
different units. He was only a year behind me in school though
because of skipping grades.
Yes, I behaved myself.
--Fil
You must be very much younger than I am. There has always been a military
code about officers and subordinates. So this was military school? It's the
only thing I can fathom that made you an officer at age 19.
Jill
jmcquown
news:4b046cc3$0$1609$742e...@news.sonic.net...
> jmcquown wrote:
>
> they call women who date/marry younger men "cougers". Heh.
>
> applied to women (and was, unsurprisingly, a bit derogatory), but not
> the specific meaning.
>
manage to get the short straw.) It makes us sound predatory. Yeah, I"m
after that big diamond ring... NOT! I'm not a "cougar", but I don't see
anything wrong with women dating a younger man. (Or vice versa.)
> Well, I can think of worse things to be called. I'm rather fond of the
> cougar myself, one of the world's most graceful, fearsome and beautiful
> animals. And now this thread is on topic! :)
>
> Joyce
>
Cougars are beautiful cats :) Also known as pumas, mountain lions and
panthers, depending on the area. These cats are territorial. What cat
isn't? What kitty doesn't want to stake out a spot on the bed?
Jill
Lesley
. On
> this holiday we're not having.
>
you can go or maybe you could just go mad and go for it!
I want to go to Sydney sometime and manys the dull wet miserable day
that I find myself looking at the air fare and thinking "My credit
card could just about cover the ticket, my overdraft is big enough to
cover hotels and spending money" and I go in and get brochures and
dream before reality reminds me that it would take me ages to pay it
all back and at the moment the logistics of getting Dave there are a
bit much
At the moment I have some policies that mature next year so who knows?
Lesley
Slave of the Fabulous Furballs
Jofirey
"Lesley" <LMad...@hhnt.nhs.uk> wrote in message
news:2155f03e-2dd3-4fa7...@j14g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
Lesley
**********************
You sound like me. I haven't done that in a while.
Plan a trip on how much I could scrape up on my credit cards and
credit line to see just how far away I could get (if I didn't have
to come back).
In real life I found out shortly after we moved here, that there is
really no where to go for the afternoon if you stomp out of the
house mad. One of the real disadvantages of a small town.
Jo
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)
jmcquown wrote:
> <bastX...@sonic.net> wrote in message
> news:4b046cc3$0$1609$742e...@news.sonic.net...
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> they call women who date/marry younger men "cougers". Heh.
>>
>> So *that's* what a "cougar" is. I've heard the term and knew it was
>> applied to women (and was, unsurprisingly, a bit derogatory), but not
>> the specific meaning.
>>
> It's one of those fairly recent terms used to derrogate women. (We
> always manage to get the short straw.) It makes us sound predatory.
> Yeah, I"m after that big diamond ring... NOT! I'm not a "cougar", but I
> don't see anything wrong with women dating a younger man. (Or vice versa.)
Both my father and my stepfather were a few years younger than my
mother. She thought women SHOULD marry someone younger than themselves
- it takes men so much longer to mature! (And many of them never do.)
Yowie
news:7mi995F...@mid.individual.net
That sounds absolutely wonderful.
Personally I wanna try sucking crawfish heads, but Joel is deathly allergic
to seafood (to the point he can't kiss me if I've eaten any in the last few
hours), so that ain't going to happen.
Its really hard to know what the differences in food styles are, and i
suspect that the biggest differences would be at the 'comfort food' end of
the spectrum. I guess what I'd like to try is what I would consider uniquely
American food - such as pumpkin pie and keylime pie. Although I know they're
not high cuisine, a 'sloppy joe' would be good to try too. And naturally, a
really good chili (Joel likes fire, I like mine with some warmth but not
anything so bad that I have to experience it twice, IYSWIM). I"m also
curious about 'Chinese' - and the different ways it has been adapted to the
local inhabitants. I know what our 'Chinese' is like, but I'd be really
interested in how the American palate has interepretted it - knowing that
its only got a passing resemblence to what actual Chinese people eat :-)
But I'm sure whatever you would whip up would be utterly delicious, even if
its just a sanga (thats a sandwich in Aussiespeak) :-)
I'd also have to introduce you to the joys of vegemite, pavlova and
lamingtons (although not, obviously, together). Wish we could bring a good
leg of saltbush lamb over and experience what you could do with it, but I
don't think it would survive the flight, let alone customs :-(
If I get to New York, a Jewish deli is a must-do. And I absolutley must try
a chocolate bobka (I have watched to much Seinfeld). And I'd love to try
cajun in Lousiana (Speaking of Lousiana, anyone heard from Gracecat
recently?) and of course TexMex in Texas.
Mmmmm.... food.....
Now hungry, and all I've got for breakfast is weetbix :-(
Lesley
>
> Now hungry, and all I've got for breakfast is weetbix :-(
>
>
Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
bastX...@sonic.net
> Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
> minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
> why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
> served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
I don't know. How is it served in the UK? (I mean the takeout.)
Another question for UK'ers: is the Thai food you eat very sugary?
Here, Thai food is extremely sweet - every dish is full of sugar.
Joyce
--
Who ever thought up the word "Mammogram"? Every time I hear it, I think
I'm supposed to put my breast in an envelope and send it to someone.
-- Jan King
Jack Campin - bogus address
> minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
> why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
> served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
I don't have a TV so I haven't ever seen a US TV show featuring
Chinese takeaways, but in the UK they always seem to come in a
bunch of aluminium foil boxes with cardboard lids. Is that not
what Americans use?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 <http://www.campin.me.uk> Twitter: JackCampin
bastX...@sonic.net
>> Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
>> minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
>> why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
>> served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
> I don't have a TV so I haven't ever seen a US TV show featuring
> Chinese takeaways, but in the UK they always seem to come in a
> bunch of aluminium foil boxes with cardboard lids. Is that not
> what Americans use?
This is what Chinese food comes in when you order it as takeout in
the US:
http://www.jossip.com/wp/docs/2007/08/chinese-takeout.JPG
Soup containers look like this:
(Full link:
Joyce
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)
Jack Campin - bogus address wrote:
>> Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
>> minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
>> why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
>> served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
>
> I don't have a TV so I haven't ever seen a US TV show featuring
> Chinese takeaways, but in the UK they always seem to come in a
> bunch of aluminium foil boxes with cardboard lids. Is that not
> what Americans use?
Actually, most of the Chinese takeaway I've had came in sort of
collapsible one-piece cardboard tubs (with an attached lid that folds
over and links closed). ....Probably a little easier on the
environment, since the paper is more biodegradable that aluminum foil.
tanadashoes
Does this mean that I'm a cougar? I'm seven years older than Rob. He
was 22 and I was 29 when we married. People thought that I was after
his income in the military. I was hot after those awesome blue eyes and
cute tush.
Pam S.
tanadashoes
Library, park, mall, store, friend's house, back yard. I've done them
all. Rob and I love each other very much, but there are times when one
needs to stomp out of the house.
Pam S.
Jofirey
"tanadashoes" <tan...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:yaKdnehQbr7PoJHW...@earthlink.com...
Some people. Anybody that marries a young guy in the military is
definitely not in it for the money!
And besides, as you said, he's hot!
Jo
Jofirey
Yep, you used to live outside Sacramento too. But when we first got
here, there was no mall, I don't think the new library was here
quite yet, and whatever was, wasn't open on the weekend, back yard
was dirt and I didn't have any friends yet. Really sucked. Grocery
store just doesn't accommodate a good sulk. Especially frustrating
when you are already in the car and a few miles from the house and
don't know where to go next.
Jo
John F. Eldredge
> Lesley wrote:
>
> > Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
> > minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
> > why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
> > served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
>
> I don't know. How is it served in the UK? (I mean the takeout.)
>
> Another question for UK'ers: is the Thai food you eat very sugary? Here,
> Thai food is extremely sweet - every dish is full of sugar.
>
> Joyce
Here in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the nature of Thai food varies
considerably from restaurant to restaurant. Some places do, indeed, put
too much sugar in. I have a more-authentic Thai/Laotian restaurant in my
neighborhood that caters to a mostly-Asian clientele, and the only sweet
dishes that I have encountered are Pad Thai and one rice dish (whose name
I don't remember) that contains both pineapple and raisins.
--
John F. Eldredge -- jo...@jfeldredge.com
"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better
than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria
William Hamblen
wrote:
>Here in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the nature of Thai food varies
>considerably from restaurant to restaurant. Some places do, indeed, put
>too much sugar in. I have a more-authentic Thai/Laotian restaurant in my
>neighborhood that caters to a mostly-Asian clientele, and the only sweet
>dishes that I have encountered are Pad Thai and one rice dish (whose name
>I don't remember) that contains both pineapple and raisins.
There's a little place on Haywood Lane near Nolensville Rd that's
pretty authentic.
Bud
Yowie
news:3293267f-667e-4a37...@c34g2000yqn.googlegroups.com
> Japanese
> which is rare in south FL but popular here for takeout.
Yowie
Dunno what its like in England, but here in Australia the "Chinese" food
we've been used to has always been sliced meat & vegetables in a sauce,
served over rice. WHilst we've always considered it "Chinese" I doubt anyone
from China would recognise the dishes
Just recently "Noodle Bars" have been springing up, and they have a more
Singaporean / Malaysian feel to them. The food is cooked 'while you wait'
and often in front of you, and tends to be based on noodle dishes.
Noodle-based dishes tend to be relatively tdry (at least compared to
Australian "Chinese" food), and can therefore be put into those paper boxes
without the risk of leaking.
From what I've seen on American TV of folks eating out of the white paper
boxes, they tend to be the dryer type dishes and/or noodles.
And thus thats yet another thing I"d like to try if I was in the USA - what
American "Chinese" food tastes like compared to Australian "Chinese" and
Australian "Noodle Bar" food.
Yowie
news:3293267f-667e-4a37...@c34g2000yqn.googlegroups.com
> On Nov 22, 9:00 am, Lesley <LMadi...@hhnt.nhs.uk> wrote:
> Japanese
> which is rare in south FL but popular here for takeout.
Mmmmm.... sushi. Mmmmmm..... sabu sabu. Mmmmmmm..... beef fumiyaki.
Mmmmmm...... miso soup. Mmmmmm..... soba noodles.
And whilst I know bimbimbap isn't Japanese as such (its Korean), its served
in our lcoal Japanese restaurant. MMmmm...... bimbimbap.
Yowie
news:4b09b4c0$0$1658$742e...@news.sonic.net
> Lesley wrote:
>
>> Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway any
>> minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me as to
>> why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen Chinese
>> served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
>
> I don't know. How is it served in the UK? (I mean the takeout.)
>
> Another question for UK'ers: is the Thai food you eat very sugary?
> Here, Thai food is extremely sweet - every dish is full of sugar.
From an Aussie: some Thai food is sweet, some isn't.
(I would die without Laksa!)
Yowie
news:4b09db7c$0$1584$742e...@news.sonic.net
> Jack Campin - bogus address wrote:
>
>>> Now hungry as well may have to order a British "Chinese" takeaway
>>> any minute. I wonder if any of the USA RPCA;'ers could enlighten me
>>> as to why you get at least according to all the shows I've seen
>>> Chinese served in those little boxes? We don't get that over here.
>
>> I don't have a TV so I haven't ever seen a US TV show featuring
>> Chinese takeaways, but in the UK they always seem to come in a
>> bunch of aluminium foil boxes with cardboard lids. Is that not
>> what Americans use?
>
> This is what Chinese food comes in when you order it as takeout in
> the US:
>
> http://www.jossip.com/wp/docs/2007/08/chinese-takeout.JPG
>
> Soup containers look like this:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/y9nqujx
>
> (Full link:
>
> http://www.anything4restaurants.com/products/12-oz-wok-away-r-double-poly-paper-food-container-lid-combo-pack-79195.html
> )
Most of our take-away food that needs a box (as opposed to just being
wrapped, such as a burger or sandwhich) tends to come in boxes that looks
like this:
http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/rectangular-takeaway-containers/
http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/round-takeaway-containers/
Regardless of whats in them. And yes, they leak.
The Noodle Houses tend to put their wetter dishes in these:
http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/noodle-bowl-lids-for-1050ml-bowl-400s.html
Whilst the drier dishes tend to go inthe carboard boxes that Joyce posted a
link to.
Stormmee
--
Have a wonderful day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7nc1aiF...@mid.individual.net...
Stormmee
from very sweet to scorchingly hot. in Chicago there is a place by DH's mom
that serves wonderful pad ti,sp, fried tofu and hot enough to taste but not
burn, also can get it with duck, his sister and i always get this to share,
Lee
--
Have a wonderful day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7nc1glF...@mid.individual.net...
bastX...@sonic.net
> Most of our take-away food that needs a box (as opposed to just being
> wrapped, such as a burger or sandwhich) tends to come in boxes that looks
> like this:
> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/rectangular-takeaway-containers/
> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/round-takeaway-containers/
> Regardless of whats in them. And yes, they leak.
What do you do with the container after you're done with them?
Joyce
--
Whenever you feel anger, you should say, "May I be free of this
anger!" This rarely works, but talking to yourself in public will
encourage others to leave you alone.
Lesley
>
> I don't know. How is it served in the UK? (I mean the takeout.)
Either in foil boxes or increasingly especially if you have it
delivered in plastic containers that can be microwaved
>
> Another question for UK'ers: is the Thai food you eat very sugary?
> Here, Thai food is extremely sweet - every dish is full of sugar.
Not noticably sweet
Yowie
news:7nc620F...@mid.individual.net
> imho there is no bad asian food of any kind, Lee
I don't like century eggs, and congee doesn't seem to agree with me either.
There was some cracker offered to me that (unbeknowst to me at the time) was
flavoured with saccharine and salt. Not only did I find the flavour gross, I
had an allergic reaction to the saccharine, and spent the remaining part of
the day praying down the great white telephone.
Yowie
news:4b11111e$0$1585$742e...@news.sonic.net
> Yowie wrote:
>
>> Most of our take-away food that needs a box (as opposed to just being
>> wrapped, such as a burger or sandwhich) tends to come in boxes that
>> looks like this:
>
>> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/rectangular-takeaway-containers/
>> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/round-takeaway-containers/
>
>> Regardless of whats in them. And yes, they leak.
>
> What do you do with the container after you're done with them?
Recycle them - either by putting them in the recycling, or washing them out
and using them for leftovers. They're designed to be microwave safe.
Yowie
bastX...@sonic.net
>>> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/rectangular-takeaway-containers/
>>> http://wholesale.wfplastic.com.au/round-takeaway-containers/
>>
>>> Regardless of whats in them. And yes, they leak.
>>
>> What do you do with the container after you're done with them?
> Recycle them - either by putting them in the recycling, or washing them out
> and using them for leftovers. They're designed to be microwave safe.
That's good to know. The worst thing I can think of for takeout containers
is poor-quality plastic that can't easily be reused.
Joyce
--
I want freedom, the right to self expression, everyone's right to
beautiful radiant things. -- Emma Goldman
Baird Stafford
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> Anyone else notice how threads almost invariably drift towards food? LOL
The phenomenon has been endemic to usenet since at least 1990. It has
now achieved the hallowed status of Established Tradition. Resistance
is futile!
Baird
--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice
there is. -Yogi Berra
Mishi
> In article <7ndi4uF...@mid.individual.net>,
> "Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
>> Anyone else notice how threads almost invariably drift towards food? LOL
>
> The phenomenon has been endemic to usenet since at least 1990. It has
> now achieved the hallowed status of Established Tradition. Resistance
> is futile!
>
> Baird
>
or, as a friend of mine says - Resistance is floor tile; your a** will
be laminated. (Strange man!)
Yowie
news:baird-42FE6F....@news.giganews.com
> In article <7ndi4uF...@mid.individual.net>,
> "Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
>> Anyone else notice how threads almost invariably drift towards food?
>> LOL
>
> The phenomenon has been endemic to usenet since at least 1990. It has
> now achieved the hallowed status of Established Tradition. Resistance
> is futile!
IIRC, besides cats, food and books are also considered perpetually on-topic
here :-)
Christine BA
One of the regular posters here, don't remember who, has this modified
Borg text in her (?) sig... Cannot remember all of it, but it started
with "We are the Borg of dyslexia..." and contained the laminated hind
quarters too... :D
--
Christine in Finland
christal63 (at) gmail (dot) com
Stormmee
--
Have a wonderful day
"Yowie" <yowie9644....@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:7ndi4uF...@mid.individual.net...
tanadashoes
He sure was. Even now I can melt into those blue eyes of his. But then
I'm a sucker for bright blue eyes.
Pam S.
tanadashoes
That was SUQURT (spelling wrong I'm sure) It went "We are BORG of
Dyslexia. Your *ss will be laminated" She took it off her postings,
much to my dismay, after my *ss was laminated.
Pam S.
tanadashoes
Parks. One of the good things about that area is lots of parks of
varying kinds. I didn't dare take long walks like I used to in El Paso,
no side walks where we were, S curved roads and lots of nice lovely
vermin like rattle snakes and cougars.
Pam S.
Christine BA
I STR it contained also something about "resistance is fertile", and
something else too...
Jofirey
Now that I know the area, the parks are great. Many new ones and
ones I didn't know about then. Now I can take my dog and maybe a
book and go sit at the dog park. Ours is huge, a Valley Oak
preserve. If one of us goes there, since the dog is gone too, the
one left home knows where you've gone, and to leave you alone. There
are places and parks where you can go to the river bottoms. Good
when you know which ones are 'open to the public' and which ones
don't welcome outsiders. Hundreds of miles of levees, many now with
paved bike paths that make them somewhat safer.
You are right, everyone needs to get out of the house and cool off
once in a while. Even Tiger Woods.
Jo